Problem 3 · 2014 Math Kangaroo
Easy
Geometry & Measurement
grid-countingspatial-reasoning
a, b and c are the lengths of the three different pieces of wire shown on the grid. Which of the following inequalities is correct?
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Answer: E — \(c
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Hint 1 of 2
Each wire runs along grid lines, so its length is just the number of unit steps.
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Hint 2 of 2
Trace each path and tally its horizontal and vertical unit segments, then compare.
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Approach: count unit segments of each grid path
- Walk along each wire and count the unit grid segments it uses.
- Wire c uses the fewest unit steps, wire b a few more, and wire a the most.
- Ordering them gives c < b < a.
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